🧅🍝 Caramelized Onion Pasta
🍽️ Servings: 2–4 | ⏱️ Time: ~45 minutes (mostly for onions)
🧾 Ingredients:
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2–3 large yellow or sweet onions, thinly sliced
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3 tbsp olive oil (or use a mix of butter and oil)
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1/2 tsp salt
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1/2 tsp sugar (optional, helps onions caramelize)
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2–4 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
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8 oz pasta or noodles (spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, or even egg noodles)
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1/2 cup reserved pasta water
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2 tbsp butter
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Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, to taste
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Fresh herbs: thyme, parsley, or basil (optional)
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Black pepper, to finish
🥣 Instructions:
1. Caramelize the onions
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In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low.
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Add sliced onions, salt, and optional sugar.
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Cook low and slow for 30–40 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until onions are deep golden and soft.
🔥 Don’t rush — caramelizing is slow but worth it!
2. Boil pasta
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Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.
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Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
3. Add garlic & red pepper
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When onions are caramelized, stir in garlic and red pepper flakes.
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Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Toss pasta with onions
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Add drained pasta to the skillet with the onions.
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Stir in butter and a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen things up.
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Toss until the sauce clings to the noodles. Add more pasta water as needed.
5. Finish and serve
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Stir in grated cheese and cracked black pepper to taste.
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Garnish with herbs if desired.
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Serve warm, with extra cheese on top.
🔁 Optional Add-Ins:
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Mushrooms: sauté with onions for an earthy twist
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Bacon or pancetta: add crispy bits for salty contrast
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Balsamic vinegar: splash in 1–2 tsp at the end for tang
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Cream: a splash of heavy cream = rich caramelized onion cream sauce
Want a vegan version, or curious how to make it with ramen noodles or rice noodles? I can adapt it!